The youngest age a child can work part-time is 13, except children involved in areas like television, theatre and modelling where they will require a licence to perform.
Between the ages of 13 and 16, children can’t work unless they have a child employment permit. It is illegal for businesses to employ 13-16 year old children without one.
Permitted working hours
Term Time -maximum of 12 hours a week.
Up to 2 hours each school day, between 7.00am and 8.00am or 3.30pm and 7.00pm.
Saturdays & School Holidays – maximum of 25 hours a week
Up to 5 hours a day, between 7.00am and 7.00pm.
Sundays – Working hours limited to only 2 hours between 7.00am and 7.00pm.
Term Time -maximum of 12 hours a week.
Up to 2 hours each school day, between 7.00am and 8.00am or 3.30pm and 7.00pm.
Saturdays & School Holidays – maximum of 35 hours a week
Up to 8 hours a day, between 7.00am and 7.00pm.
Sundays – Working hours limited to only 2 hours between 7.00am and 7.00pm.
What type of work is allowed
13 to 16 year olds can do light work in the following areas:
- agricultural or horticultural work
- delivery of newspapers/printed material
- shop work
- hairdressing salons
- office work
- private car washing by hand
- café or restaurant – but not in the kitchen
- domestic work – for example: in a hotel
Types of work not allowed
No child of any age can be employed in the following areas:
- cinemas or night clubs
- commercial kitchens
- collecting or sorting rubbish, rags or scrap metal
- any work more than three metres above the ground/floor level
- telephone sales
- fairgrounds or amusement arcades, as an attendant or assistant
The government has also placed other restrictions on the kind of work that children can do – including health and safety, alcohol licensing and gambling laws. The London Borough of Sutton also has Byelaws regarding what work children are permitted to undertake.
Further information
National Network for Child Employment and Entertainment (NNCEE)